Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Friday said 75% of students from govt schools who cleared the Class XII exams this year joined higher studies. After releasing the State Education Policy 2025 on school education, Stalin said the enrolment in higher education should surpass this percentage next year.

“Our target is for 100% of students to join higher studies. I appeal to students assembled here to convince your friends to join higher studies by explaining the importance,” Stalin told govt school students who gained admission to top institutions in the country. “As many as 901 students from govt schools gained admission to premier institutions inside the country and abroad. Of them, 27 joined IITs this year,” Stalin added.

Last year, 678 students from govt schools have joined the top institutes.

He advised them not to have any fear with regard to the top institutions. “You have achieved great heights from a difficult background. Come out with degrees. We and the world are ready to celebrate your success,” he said.

Speaking at the event, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said the chief minister had rejected the National Education Policy as it was designed to exclude students from oppressed and backward communities. “A Union minister said they would release 2,152 crore only if the state accepts the three-language formula. However, the CM rejected it. People will not accept the imposition of any language. The language war ignited by the CM has now spread to Maharashtra, where the state govt withdrew the three-language policy due to protests. When all states gain such awareness, the Union govt itself will drop the three-language policy,” Udhayanidhi said.

He said the State Education Policy would be the beginning of bringing education back to the State list. Higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan, health minister Ma Subramanian, HR and CE minister P K Sekarbabu, chief secretary N Muruganandam, school education secretary B Chandra Mohan, and others took part in the event.